Lovlina Borgohain Olympics

Guwahati, July 26: Tokyo Olympics medalist Lovlina Borgohain has alleged mental harassment by the authorities in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Lovlina said one of her coaches has been denied entry to the Commonwealth Games Village while another one has been sent home.

The celebrated boxer said she had to plead to be included in the training camp in the lead-up to the multi-national Games.

Lovlina Borgohain took to social media to share details of the alleged mistreatment that she has been subject to, saying it has heavily affected her training for the Commonwealth Games. Notably, Lovlina won the trails held by the Boxing Federation of India in June to book a berth in the 70kg category for the CWG in Birmingham.

Lovlina said her training has been impacted just 8 days ahead of her event at the Commonwealth Games.

“Today with great sorrow I want to reveal that harassment is going on with me. The coaches who helped me win the Olympic medal were removed which hindered my training process. One of the coaches is Sandhya Gurungji, who is a Dronacharya awardee. Both of my coaches have to plead to be included in the training camp and they are added quite late,” Lovlina said in a tweet.

“I have to face a lot of issues in these training camps and this causes mental harassment as well. Right now my coach Sandhya Gurungji is outside Commonwealth Village and she is not getting entry. My training process was stopped eight days ahead of the Games.”

Tiken Borgohain, father of boxer Lovlina Borgohain said that “I don’t have any opinion on this matter. If there was politics or anything else involved I don’t know of it. All I want is that my daughter should be able to move forward in the game. I will give importance to this matter whether it is because of politics or anything else, I can’t tell anything about this matter and I don’t even know about the matter. If there is something then my player should know about it and her performance should be given importance in future. This is something I hope for.”

“We will go for the championship and compete. Today we were called but of course, I was busy. We have discussed that when there is some event, some other types of courses will also be provided. Through the course, she can also compete in Olympics. Since Sandhya Gurung is her coach she is comfortable when performing under her. She tells when Sandhya Ma’am is there I can mentally focus as well. I just want that the performers’ mental health to be taken care of and their game gave importance. On 28th she can perform well that is the most important thing. I hope she can come home with a medal,” his father added.

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“My second coach has been sent back to India. In spite of requesting so much I had to face mental harassment. I don’t understand how should I focus on the Games as due to this my last World Championships was also spoiled. But I don’t want to spoil my CWG because of this politics. I hope I can break this politics for my country and bring a medal as well,” Lovlina added.

Lovlina scripted history in Tokyo last year by winning a bronze medal in the Welterweight category. The 24-year-old from Assam was out for close to 9 months after her Tokyo Games high.

The Indian boxer suffered a setback at the World Championships in Istanbul as she was ousted in the pre-quarterfinals.

Competing in her first international event since her podium finished in Tokyo last year, Lovlina went down to Cindy Ngamba of Fair Chance Team (FCT) 1-4.

“My preparation (for the World Championships) wasn’t that good. After the Olympics, a lot of things changed. I had to give time to many things, fulfill commitments,” Lovlina had said.

The Indian pugilist will be looking to make a statement at the Commonwealth Games and put behind the disappointment of the world meet from earlier this year.